Force-feed lubricating apparatus.



W. B. RICHARDSON & R. R. KEITH. FORGE FEED LUBRICATTNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION TILED 001231, 1907.

1,05 1,449, Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

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/ ATTORNEY IN FACT.

W. E. RICHARDSON & R. R. KEITH. FORCE FEED LUBRIGATING APPARATUS.APPLIUATION FILED OCT. 31, 1901. 1,051,449. Patented Jan.28,1913.

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W. E. RICHARDSON & R. R. KEITH. FORCE FEED LUBRICATING APPARATUS.APPLICATION FILED 001". 31. 1907.

1,05 1,449. Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

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WILBER E. RICHARDSON AND ROBERT It. KEITH, 43F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,ASSIGN- OBS TO THE RICHARDSON-THEME COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

FORGE-FEED LUBRICATING APPARATUS.

Specification of- Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

Application filed October 31, 1907. Serial No. 400,092.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILBER E. RICHARD- SON and. ROBERT E. KEITH,citizens of the UnitedvStates, and residents of Milwaukee, din the.county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have made a new and usefulInvention in Force-Feed Lubricating Apparatus, of. which the followingis a specification. This invention relates to lubricators and wernoreparticularly to force feed lubricators. A serious difiicultyencounteredwith force feed and other lubricating apparatus, which operate inconnection with the cylinders of engines and like machines where thelubri- 1 cant delivery nozzles are subjected to varying pressures,results from the fact that air is forced by the oil delivery pumps intothe conducting or delivery passages of the apparatus. This air, as wellas small globules :of .air, which may be held in suspension in thelubricant, collects in the conducting passages wherever air domes arepossible and,

by formingelast-ic cushions, which contract and expand in response tothe variations of hepressure to which the delivery nozzles aresubjected, interferes with and often prevents. an accurate operation ofthe lubricating appa-ratus. I

One of the most important objects of our Mnvention is, therefore, theproduction of a lubricator which will deliver lubricant free of air tothe conducting, or delivery passages.

A further object is the production of a 5-foree feed lubricatingapparatus in which the conductingpassages between the lubricant.delivery pumps and the apparatus to belubricated'are filled with a solidcolumn oftlubricant, which moves forward to posi- -tively deliverlubricant each time the feed pumps force an additional quantity oflubricant into the conducting passages, and only then.

A further object is the production of an t uapparatus which will deliverregulable quantities of lubricant to the apparatus to beslubricated andwhich will respond at once-tto adjustment of the regulating devices.

lThesev and other specific objects, which will be disclosed in thefurther description of theapparatus are attained by utilizing alubricator embodyingthe features herein described and illustrated.

In the drawings accompanyingthis application, Figure 1 is a sectionalelevation along the line AA of Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevationalong the line B-B of Fig. 3; and Fig. 3 is a partial section andpartial elevation of a lubricator embodying our invention. A portion ofFig. 3 is shown in section along the line CC of Fig. 2 and a portion isshown along the line F-F of Fig. l.

The lubricator illustrated in the drawing comprises a force pump 7 whichdelivers lubricant to a plurality of sight feed nozzles 8. Eachnozzle 8delivers regulable amounts of lubricant to a delivery pump 9, which isso arranged that it will deliver lubricant free of air to a conductingor delivery passage with which it communicates. The circulating pump 7and each of the delivery pumps 9 (one being provided for each sight feednozzle) are actuated by a cylindrical gear 11, which, with the pumps andsight feed nozzles 8, is located in a body portion 12. The gear 11, inits operation, oscillates through a desired arc and may be actuated by aseparate motor directly con- 80 nected to its shaft 13, or by any movingpart of the apparatus to be lubricated.

A lubricant supply tank 14 is secured to the body portion 12 andsupplies lubricant through a suitable check valve 21, communicatingpiping and a communicating passage 15, formed in the body portion, tothe circulating pump 7 The pump 7 comprises a chamber 16 formed in thebody portion, a plunger 17 operating therein and a valved 90 deliverypassage 18, which communicates through passages 19 and '20 with thesight feed nozzles 8. The chamber 16 is cylindrical and, extendingvertically through the body portion, communicates with the cylindricalbore in which the gear 11 is located. The pump plunger 17 is providedwith a rack 22, which meshes with the gear 11, and the lower end of theplunger forms a working fit with a composition ring which is locatedwithin the chamber 16. The delivery passage 18 is provided with a springrestrained .check valve 23, which opens in response to pressure in thechamber 16 and delivers lubricant to the nozzles 8. The passage 20, withwhich all the sight feed nozzles 8 communicate, is provided with anoverflow passage 24, which discharges into the upper part of the chamber14. A regulatingvalve 25 is provided in the passage 2a and is adapted towholly or partially close suctionexerted in or transmitted to the pasthedischarge passage and thereby. vary the Sage '36. pressure head of thelubricant supplied to The lubricant delivered to the passage 36 thenozzles 8. Any suitable valve may be is forced by the operation of aplunger past employed but we prefer an ordinary plug a spring-restrainedcheck valve 43 which is 7 valve, which is provided withan operatingarranged to respond to pump pressure and handle 26 extending beyond thebody porwhich communicates with a vertically-distion 12. posed passage44arranged in the body por- Each nozzle 8 is provided with'a regulattionand communicating with suitable pipm ing valve 29 and deliverslubricantto one of ing or passages 46, which constitute the con- 75 the pumpsthrough a slight feed chamber 30, ducting passages of the apparatus.Each which is formed in the body portion 12 and conducting passage 46 isprovided at its rewhich is provided with a transparent cover mote ordelivery end with a spring ref- 31. The lubricant discharged from eachstrained check valve 47 or valved delivery 15 nozzle 8 drops through thesight feed chamnozzle. The arrangement of the apparatus 0 ber and isreceived by a passage 32, which is is such that the passage 36, thechamber of formed in the body portion 12 and which the check valve 43,the passage 44 and all communicates, by means of a short passage thecommunicating pipes or passages are al- 33, intersecting andcommunicating with the ways filled with an exclusively liquid colpumpchamber 34 of the pump 9 whereby an umn so that the admission ofadditional lu- 5 inlet port is formed. The pump chamber bricant from thepump 9 causes the column, 34 extends vertically through the body porinthe communicating passages, to move fortion 12 and communicates with thecylindriward and positively deliver to the apparatus cal bore in whichthe gear 11 operates. The to be lubricated a correspond-ing amount oflower end of the pump chamber 34 forms a lubricant. Due to theincompressibility of clearance chamber within which the separathecolumn, the valve 47 operates in exact tion of air from the lubricant oroil is efiectsynchronism with the delivery pump in deed and the outletfrom which is adapted to livering lubricant. In order that the appabeclosed by means of a check valve 35, which ratus may perform thisfunction accurately, 30 controls the delivery of fluid from the pump andbe independent of the pressure to which chamber to a communicatingpassage 36. A the-delivery nozzle is subjected, it is necesplunger 37operates in the chamber and is sai'y to provide means such that theplunger provided at its upper end with a rack 38 37 cannot under anycircumstances, force which meshes with the cylindrical gear 11 air pastthe valve 35 and into the passage 5 and cooperates with it intransmitting to 36. We accomplish this by providing a the plungera.recip'rocating motion. The chamber 45 in the lower end of the plungerlower end of the plunger operates in the, 37, thereby increasing theclearance volume chamber 34 to force oil to the communicatin the pumpchamber and consequently liming passage 36 and is so positioned withiniting' the final pressure to which the air in 0 the chamber that itcovers and uncovers the the chamber can be compressed by the plunpassage33 during its reciprocation. ger when the chamber is filled with aironly. The lower end of the chamber 34 is of inlVe then adjust the spring41 so that the creased diameter for the purpose of admitvalve 35 willnot respond to a pressure equal ting a composition ring 39 and thecasing 40 to or below that at which the air in the cham- 5 of the checkvalve 35. The portion of the ber 34 can be compressed by-the plunger'37I chamber in which the ring 39 is located is when the chamber is filledwith air and a conical in shapeand the outer face of the predeterminedamount of lubricant. Under ring is correspondingly tapered. The ringsuch conditions the pump cannot operate to 39 surrounds the operatingend of the plunforce fluid past the chec valve 35 until the anger 37 andis secured in place by means of clearance space is sufficientlydiminished by the valve casing 40, which is screwedinto the admissionoflubricant to the chamber the body portion 12 and which'is so ar- 34 tocause the compression pressure to rise ranged that itmay be utilized toadjust the above that for which the valve 35 is adjustpacking ring 39for wear by forcing it uped. Upon the admission of lubricantto the 55wardly 'into the chamber 34 against the in pump chamber, theclearancevolume in the clined wall, whereby the ring is contractedchamber is decreased an amount correspondand its internal diameterdecreased. ing to the volume of the lubricant admitted The check valve35 is forced upwardly and consequently the final compression presagainstits'seatby means of a spring 41, sure which the plunger is capable ofpump v eo'w-hichis located within the casing 40 being is increased acorresponding amount and tween the check valve and a cap nut 42.lubricant will be delivered through the valve The valve is so arrangedthat it will respond 35 until the pressure in the chamber deto pressurein the pump chamber 34 and de-" creases to the pressure for which thespring liver lubricant from the chamber to the pas- 41 is adjusted. c5sage 36 but will not respond to pressure or The apparatus is so ad ustedthat the pump plunger cannot discharge all the lubricant from thechamber 34 and the valve 35 is-so located in the clearance space as tobe always covered with a predetermined amount of lubricant. Furthermore,the valves 43 and 35 are so placed that it is possible for the valve '43to take up and fully perform the work of the valve 35 inca-se of failureof that valve. This is possible because the valve 43 is spring loadedand adjusted in proper proportion to the load imposed on the valve 35 sothat it will hold a final compression pressure in the pump of thechamber 45 in chamber which is insufiicient to force lubricant past theseat of the valve 35. The seats ofeach of the valves 35 and 43 aresubstantially in'the same horizontal plane and the connecting passage 36is so arranged that there are no air domes possible. This constructionmakes it possible for the valve 43 to perform the functions of valve 35in case of failure of the latter valve. Consequently, even in theordinary operation of the apparatus, the valves 35 and 43 operate atpractically the same time, and the passage 36 is always filled withlubricant. A lubricator so constructed and adjusted will not permit airtoupass through the valve 35 into thepassage 36, but, after theapparatus is in operation, will discharge into the assa e 36 any amountof lubricant delivers to t e chamber 34;by the-nozzle 8. It will also beapparent that as soon as the oil delivered by the nozzle to the chamber34 is forced past the valve, the pressure then existing in the chambercannot be sufficient to keep the valve 35 open, and consequently no aircan pass through the valve to the passage 36.

NVhen-a plunger 38 descends and closes an inlet port, which is formed bythe intersection of the passagp 33 with the chamber 34,-

oil and air will trapped in chamber 34 and chamber 45, in the lower endof the plunger. The air will be compressed by the downward movement ofthe plunger and the oil will be subjected to this pressure. The oilitself is practicall incompressible but bubbles of air contained thereinwill be compressed concentrically, as the pressure is transmitted b theoil equally in all directions. Now w en the plunger rises the pressureon the oil is diminished and the air bubbles in the oil will expand tothe size which they had before they were compressed, butthis expansionwill be eccentric and upward because less resistance is encountered inthe upward directlon. In other words, while the air bubbles are beingcompressed their centers remam 1 the same position but when the bubblesexpand thelr centers rise so the effect is to raise the bubbles out ofthe oil by the alternate compression and expansion of them. The presencethe plunger insures the presence of air above the oil so that alternatecompression and expansion of the air bubbles in the oil must take placeas it should be remembered that the valve 35 is set to withstand acertain definite pressure before it will open.

The frame 48 does not fit air tight being yieldingly held in place bysprings 52 and air separated from the oil can readily ascape from thesight feed chamber 30, passing thereto throu h passages 33 and 32.

Fig. 1 of the drawings clearly shows the plunger 17 amply long enough tocover the passage 15 before the end of its stroke and long enough pumpoil.

Another novel feature of our invention is the arrangement of thetransparent wall 31 of the sight feed chamber 30. This wall consists ofa suitable glass which is mounted in a frame portion 48. The frameportion is secured to the body portion 12 by means of screws 49 whichextend into cylindrical bores 50 formed in the body portion and whichare provided at their inner ends with spring blocks 51. A coil spring 52surrounds each screw 50 and operates between its respective spring blockand the body portion. With such an arrangement, when it is necsary toclean the inner surface of the glass or remove it from the frame 48, theframe is pulled forward, thereby compressing the springs 52 andpermitting of access to the g ass and the interior of the sight feedchamber; When the frame portion is released, the tension of the sprinforces the screws back into position, there y bringing the frame portion'back to the front of the body portion.

The operation-of the apparatus isxas follows: The oscillations of thecylindrical gear 11 reciprocate the plungers 37 of the circulating pumps9 and the plunger 17 of the force pump 7. When the plunger 17 of theforce pump 7 moves to uncover the passage 15, lubricant is deliveredfrom the supply chamber 14 to the pump chamber 16. The plunger in itsdownward movement first covers the passage 15 and then forces thelubricant confined in the pump chamber 16 past the check valve 23 intothe passage 19, from which it is delivered to the passage 20, with whichthe nozzles 8 commun1cate. The lubricant delivered by the nozzles 8 ofthe individual feed pumps is delivered as has been described, to theapparatus to be lubricated through the check valves 47. These valves 47are so constructed that they will not respond to a vacuum or zeropressure at their delivery sides. For this reason lubricant cannot besucked or drawn from the passages 44 and 46 by a reduction of pressureon the delivery side of the valve.

In accordance with the provisions of the have described the prinourinvention, together patent statutes, we ciple of operation of ing saidvalve for adjusting said with the apparatus which we now believe torepresent the best embodiment thereof, but

We desire to have it understood that the ap-- paratus shown is onlyillustrative and that the invention can be carried" out by other means.i

What we claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a pump chamber, in, a softmetallic packing surroundingsaid plunger, a valve controlling thedelivery of fluid from said chamber and means includpacking for Wear bycompressing it and thereby decreasing its internal diameter.

2. In an apparatus of the class described,.

a pump chamber, a within said chamber, surrounding said plunger, a checkvalve con: trolling the delivery of fluid from said chamber and means,including said .valve, for adjusting said packing.

3. The combination in a pump for pumping oil or lubricant, of a pumpbody provided with a vertically disposed pump chamber having an oil andair inlet port and an oil outlet port separated vertically from eachother, and a clearance chamber located between said ports, a plungeradapted to be reciprocated toward and into said clearance chambertoward'said outlet port so as to cover said inlet port, and away fromsaidoutlet port and clearance chamber so as to uncover said inlet port,the said plunger being provided with an air chamber in its end which isadjacent the clearance chamber to insure the presence of abody ofplunger reciprocating a plunger operating therea'solid packlng ring airin said clearance chamber above the oil therein when said plunger hasbeen reciprocated so as to cover said inlet port and subject the oil inthe clearance chamber to pressure.

4:. The-combination in a lubricant pump of a pump body provided with avertically disposed pump chamber having an oil and air inlet ortand anoil outlet port separated vertlcally from each other and a clearancechamber located between said ports, a plunger adapted to be reciprocatedtoward and into said clearance chamber toward said outlet port so as tocover said inlet port, and away from said outlet port and clearancechamber so as to uncover said-inlet port, the said plunger beingprovided with an air chamber in its end which is adjacent the clearancechamber to insure the presence of a body of air in said clearancechamber above the oiltherein when said plunger has been reciprocated soas to cover said inlet port and subject the oil in the clearance chamberto pressure, and a spring pressed valve controlling said outlet port tokeep the said valve closed until the pressure in the clearance chamberhas reached a predetermined pressure.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 25thday of October, 1907.

WILBER E. RICHARDSON. RO'BT. R. KEITH.

lVitnesses:

J OHN F. HARPER, ROBERT N. MCMYNN.

